In this section

HOUSE OF AUGUSTINIAN CANONESSES

11. THE PRIORY OF ST. MARY MAGDALEN, BRISTOL

The priory of St. Mary Magdalen at Bristol
was founded in or about 1173, and endowed
with 'competent' possessions, by Eva, widow of
Robert Fitzharding, who is said to have been
the first prioress. (fn. 1) It was a house of canonesses
of the order of St. Augustine, (fn. 2) and as such was
subject to the visitation of the bishop of Worcester, which was regularly exercised. (fn. 3) The
canonesses had the right of free election after
obtaining a congé d'élire from the lords of
Berkeley, (fn. 4) but on more than one occasion either
they did not avail themselves of the right (fn. 5) or they
neglected some formality, which gave the bishop
the power to appoint. In 1421 he set aside
their election as invalid, (fn. 6) but nominated the
prioress of their choice. From the thirteenth
century onwards the community was very poor,
and on that account was exempt from payment
of procurations to the bishop at his visitation, (fn. 7)
and from taxation. (fn. 8) The priory came under the
Act of 1536 for the suppression of the lesser
monasteries. On 3 August a commission was
issued for a survey of those monasteries in Bristol
of which the revenues fell below £200 a year,
with a view of taking them over on the king's
behalf. (fn. 9) The commissioners reported that at the
priory of St. Mary Magdalen there were two religious, 'by report of honest conversation whereof
one professed being governor impotent and aged;
the other a young novice desiring continuance
in religion.' (fn. 10) They had two servants, a man
and a laundress. The church and house were
in good repair. The yearly value of the property
was set down at £21 13s. 2d. The house was
probably dissolved immediately afterwards. (fn. 11)